Grain-weighing machine.



. B. M. STEELE.

GRAIN WEIGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1904.

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B. M. STEELE;

GRAIN- WEIGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 849,026. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. -B. M. STEELE.

GRAIN WBIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION EILED NOV. 23, 1904.

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13. M. STEELE. GRAINHWEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED NOV. 23, 1904.

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' store the parts to such position that a fresh To all whom/ it nuty concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN M. STEELE, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BEN STEELE WEIGHER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GRAIN-WEIGHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN M. STEELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Weighing Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to This invention has reference to grainweighing machines, and especially to that class in which grain is delivered from the spout of an elevator tube or trunk into a hopper or receptacle that is counterpoised upon the frame of a scale-beam in such a manner that when a predetermined amount of grain is delivered to the hopper or receptacle it will descend a short distance and in so doing will bring into action the mechanism whereby the mouth of the elevatorspout is closed and whereby the bottom of the hopper is automatically opened in order to discharge the grain from the hopper, the discharge of the grain from the hopper permitting the weight of the scale-beam to re supply of grain will be delivered from the elevator-spout to the hopper.

One of the objects which I have in view is to improve and simplify the construction and arrangement of the devices which control the opening and closing of the valve parts or gates of the spout and hopper.

A further object of the invention is a tripshaft and a continuously-rotated sprocket wheel on said shaft, a friction-clutch, one member of which is fixed and the other loose on the shaft, the control of the said clutch parts being accomplished through and by means of the scale-beam.

A further object of the invention is a tripshaft one terminal of which carries a crank, and attached to the crank is a pitman connected at its other end to the valve of the hopper, a cam carried by the said trip-shaft at or near its outer end adapted to be engaged by a rod which has a pivotal connection with the gate of the spout, the continued rotation of the trip-shaft and the cam nor 1 mally holding the gate open, and at intervals which are of short duration the cam permits the rod to fall and close the said gate.

The invention has for its further object a trip-shaft and acontinuously-driven sprocket carried thereby, a member fixedly carried by the said shaft having tapered or cam-like depressions in its face, a member loosely carried by theshaft intermediate the hub of the sprocket-wheel and face of the member carrying suitable engaging devices adapted at intervals to frictionally engage the tapered or cam-like depressions in the aforesaid member and also the face of the hub of the sprocket-wheel to connect the latter with the shaft, and a scale-beam adapted to support a hopper and its free portion arranged to engage the member loose upon the shaft for the purpose of disconnecting the trip-shaft from the sprocket-wheel.

The invention consists, further, in a brakecontrolling device for the trip-shaft, a counterbalancing-weight for the valve of the hopper, and to new and improved means for tightening the chain of the elevator, the chain-tightener being disposed in the head of the elevator-tubes.

The invention also consists in the various features of improvement hereinafter described, ciaimed in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the upper part of a grain-elevator having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation from the opposite side of the upper part of the elevator. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, in horizontal section, through the tubes above the operative parts on the tripshaft to show-a plan of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, in vertical section, showing the operative parts on the trip-shaft and relative arrangement of the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the cam on the trip-shaft, the rod from the spout-gate engaging the same, and the controlling-brake. Figs. 6 i and 7 are enlarged detail views of the cam and rod shown in Fig. 5, but different steps in the operation of the same. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail elevation of one face of the hub of the sprocketwheel on the trip-shaft. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail elevation of the face of, the

member affixed to the trip-shaft, showing the tapered or cam-like .faces. Fig. 10 shows an enlarged elevation of the ball-retaining member which is disposed on the trip-shaft intermediate a fixed member thereon and the hub of the sprocket-wheel. Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-section through the ball-retaining member shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 1.2 is a vertical transverse section showing a modified form of mechanism for ere.- ating a frictional engagement between the hub and the means on the trip-shalt Fig. 13 shows in crosssection and in a plane opposite to that of Fig. 12 the modi'lied mechanism shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is an enlarged elevationin section, showing the chain-tightener in the head of the elevator.

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes ele vator-tubes, of which there are two, arranged parallel and having their ends fastened to a suitable head-section 2, which is provided with an outlet-spout 3, through which grain escapes as it is raised in the elevator-tubes. The upper sprocket for the elevator-chain (not shown) is indicated as 1 and is supported 011 the cross axle or shaft 5, which is journaled in slotted bearing-plates 6, adjustably secured by bolts at opposite sides of the head 2. The shaft 5 is continuously driven through eonnectionwith some suitable power, (not shown,) and upon. one end of the said shaft is carried the sprocket-pinion 7, which revolves with the shaft and is adapted to impart rotation to a trip-shaft in a manner to be described. A chain-tightener is provided. to take up any slack in the elevator-chain referred to, which consists of an arm 8, disposed between the tubes 1 and adjustable through a depressed or contracted portion 9 of the head-section 2. The upper end of the arm 8 is provided with the U-shaped portion 1.0, the opposite terminals of which engage hub-portions 11 of the bearing-plates 6, which extend into the head-section 2. The lower end of the arm 8 has a threaded extension 12, which passes down through a bracket 1.3, suitably supported by the head, and is engaged by the adjusting and locking nuts 14. The adjustment of the said nuts adapts the raising or lowering of the shaft 5 through the bearing-plates 6, which may be fixed after adjustment by means of the bolts li'lGIltlOl'lGd.

Beneath the head 2 and transversely arranged between the elevator-tubes is a horizontal counter or trip shaft 15, adapted to be intermittingly actuated. The said shaft is supported and rotatable in the bearings 1.6, formed integral with a pair of circularformed straps or brackets 17, secured to the opposite tubes in the manner shown. On one end. of the trip-shaft 15 is loosely carried and adapted to be continuously rotated a driven sprocket-wheel 18, which is connected with the coi1tinuously-rotated pinion 7 on, the shaft 5. (See Fig. 1.) The inner hub of the sprocket is of suitable thickness, and the face thereof is provided with a concentric depression or groove 20, which is substantially semicircular in. formation.

Secured on, the trip-shaft and removed a short distance from the hub of the sprocketwheel is a flanged. member 21, having the annular depressed portion 22 between the flanges thereof, and the extension. 23, which has the cam-face 24 of suitable contour. hilc the member 2] as herein illustrated the preferred form, yet for various reasons, some of which will later appear, modified forms of the same may be used with as good results. in the outer face of the memher I have provided the lateral tapered or cam-like depressions 24 for a purpose to be described.

Carried loosely on the shaft and intermediate the matching faces of the hub of the sprocket 18 and the member 21 is an annular plate, disk, or ball retainer 25, approximately of the diameter the hub of the spr cket-wheel, although. this is not necessary, and the central body portion of the said plate or disk is beveled or swelled, as at 26, to create a frictioiibearing between that portion of the plate or disk and. the face of the member 21. The plate, disk, or ball retainer 25 in this instance is made of two plates suitably joined and at suitable points therein have the n'iatching swelled portions 27 and perforated, as at 28, providing for the retaining of the balls 25), which protrude through the perforations or openings 28. 'lhese balls are positioned or placed in the plate or disk 25 to coincide with the com'entric or annular groove or depression in the face of the hub of the sprecket-wheel, which serves as a ballrace for the said balls. The location of the said balls brings them coincident with the tapered or cam-like depressions 24 in the face of the member 21. The result is that when the plate or disk is free from engagement with a member, to be described, the 'l'rietional contact of the balls in the ball-raw of the sproclmt-wheel hub 1t; and the body of the plate 25 with the n'leinher 21, as previouslv set forth, that as the sproclwt-wlreel is rotated. the disk or plate 25, through the engagement of the balls with the sprocket, given a partial rotation on the tri 'i-shaft until the halls are wedged against the tapered or cam-like depressions in the member 21, which will cause the balls to firmly in'ipi'nge the ball-race of the sprocket and rotate the disk or plate 25, the member 21, and the tripshaft in. unison with the sprocket-wheel 18, from which they derive their power, and im part movement to parts to be described. The bulging or forming a swelled portion in the plate 25, the said plate has a slight wabbling motion on the trip-shaft and produces the frietion bearing between the balls and IlO race of the sprocket to give the initial movement to the disk or plate necessary to' cause the engaging portions to impinge and form a clutch engagement, and thereby connect the shaft with the sprocket-wheel 18. This fric tion engagement between the parts might be accomplished through the medium of other parts, (not shown;) but the form herein is preferred. The tapered or cam-like depressions 24 in the face of the member 21 are of such formation that when the trip-shaft is at rest there is no contact between the balls 29 and the depressions 24 nor until the disk 25 is rotated sufficiently to cause the balls to ride upon and impinge the tapered faces of the depressions 24, when the member 21 and the sprocket-wheel 18, through the disk 25, are in a locked relation. The disk or plate 25 is further provided with the extension 30, preferably made as shown in Fig. 10, with the tapered engaging face 31. Adapted to engage with the face 31 of the extension is a member, which will be hereinafter more fully described, which when engaged with the extension of the disk disconnects the same and the sprocket from the trip-shaft and when moved away therefrom permits the parts to act in unison, as described.

, 32 denotes a weigher bucket or hopper which is hung beneath the outlet-spout 3 upon the outer ends of the bifurcated arms 33 of a scale-beam or lever 34, the support for the hopper being the side bails 35 thereof, having fulcrum-seats 36 upon the knife-edge supports 37, attached to or forming a part of the arms 33 of the scale-beam. The arms 33 of the scale-beam are f ulcrumed at points 38 upon kn fe-edge supports 39, integral with. oppositelydepending ears 40, attached to the outlet-spout 3 of the head section 2. A valve 41, curved to conform to the bucket or hopper sides, is sustained by hangers 42 at po nts 43 and serves to close the bottom of the bucket or hopper. The hopper-valve 41 is provided with a counterbalancing-weight 44, secured to an upwardly-extended arm 45, connected with or forming a part of one of the hangers 42, to which the valve is secured. To the body of the last-mentioned hanger is pivotally joined one end of a pitman 46 and having its opposite end engaging the pin of a crank-arm 47, which is secured. to one end of the trip-shaft 15. Links 48, pivoted at their forward ends to the bucket 33 and their opposite ends engaging studs 49, secured. to one of the tubes 1, prevent the bucket from swaying as it moves up and down.

50 denotes a valve or gate supported by the hangers 51, which are pivoted at 52 on the outside of the head-section 2 and serves at intervals to close the exitspout grain. Pivotally attached to the hanger 51 upon the side of the head-section from which the sprocket-wheel 1.8 on the trip-shaft is driven is a rod 53, which extending down to 1 l l l ward the trip-shaft is carried through a guide 54, attached to the head-section 2, and its lower end is connected to or formed with an engaging member 55, which is substantially semicircular in form at the base of the pitman, conforming to a portion of the cam 24, upon which it rests when the trip-shaft is stationary and the gate of the outlet-spout is open and the valve of the hopper closed. The said engaging member 55 is further formed with a tail or extension 56, adapted. to ride against the face of the cam, and serves to guide the cam into the semicircular porhere shown integral with the arms 33.

tion of the member when it 18 adapted to open the gate of the spout and hold the same open. Referring again to the scale-lever 34 the same is formed with the graduated scalebeam portion 57, extending transversely beside the tubes intermediately the same and the upper half of the sprocket-wheel 18, and carries the sildably-arranged weight 58. The end of the beam portion 57 adjacent to the hopper is connected with the lower end of the vertical portion 59 of the said beam, whicllg is 4 X- tending laterally from the vertical portion 59 of the beam is an extension 60, on which is slidably carried the counterbalancingweight 61, by means of which the weighing devices may be perfectly adjusted.

The beam portion 57 of the scale-lever in its normal position lies in a substantially horizontal position and preferably above the annular depressed portion 22 of the member 21, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. It is adapted that in its normal position the beam rests on the member 21 through a rest or extension 62 thereof, which conforms at its lower portion to the surface of the member 21. The rest as well as the beam portion of the lever are preferably of the Lbeam construction, which presents the flanges 63 on the rest 62. It is convenient in this construction to have the beam in its normal position rest on the member 21 However, it maybe found convenient, as well as advisable, to change the construction of the member 21, and in this event the beam could rest on the support 64. (Shown in dotted lines attached to one of the tubes 1 Extending outwardly from the body of the rest 62 or the body portion of the beam is a finger or arm 64, which when the beam 57 is in its position of rest is in the path of the finger or extension 30 of the disk or plate 25 and is adapted to engage the same for the purpose of releasing the trip-shaft from the sprocketwheel.

In Fig. 1 the position of the parts are such that the trip-shaft is at rest and the hopper 3 of the is being filled with grain discharged from the spout 3. As soon as the hopper overbalances the scale-lever it will descend, causing the scale-lever to oscillate on its pivot 38, raising the beam portion 57 and releasing the finger 64tfrom. engagement with the extension 30 of the plate or disk 25. iln'lmediately upon the release of the extension 30 of the disk the frictional contact between the balls of the disk and ball-race of the sprocket-wheel causes to be imparted to the disk a slight circular movement sufficient to cause the balls to engage the cam-like depressions 24*" in the face of the member 21, and the continued movement of sprocket and disk 25 increases the 'fIlCtlOIUtl contact between the balls of the disk and the faces of the member and sprocketwheel 18, locking the sprocket to the shaft and causes the same to rotate in unison therewith, opening the valve of the hopper through the movement of the crank 4-7, attached to one end of the trip-sh aft and the pi tman 46, coni'iecting the crank and valve 41-]. of the hopper. The spout-gate upon the dropping of the hopper and starting of rotation of the trip-shaft is adapted to be closed instantly. As the trip-shaft is rotated the upper portion of the cam 24 rides from beneath the portion of the lower end of the pitman 53, causing the same to drop by its own weight into the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, closing the spoutate 50. As soon as the grain is discha ed rrom the hopper and the scale-beam overbalances the weight of the hopper the hopperis raised and the beam lowered. to its position of rest. The continuedrotation of the trip-shaft 15 bringing the engaging portion of the cam beneath the portion 55 of the rod 53 and raising the same opens the valve 50, the timing of the pitman 46 being such that the hopper-valve is closed before the spout-gate 50 is opened to again permit the grain to discharge into the hopper. As soon as the extension 30 of the disk 25 engages the finger 64 of the scalebeam the trip-shaft is disconnected from the sprocket. To insure the beam remaining in a position of rest when lowered, so that the finger 64 will perform its work of releasing the clutch parts, I have provided. a pin 65, secured in one of the fl nges of member 21, which is so placed that it will ride up and over the flange 63 of the rest of the beam, and prevents its rising as the extension 30 of the disk rotates into position to be engaged by the finger 64 in Fig. 4 the pin 65, while not in its proper place on the member 21, is illustrated in dotted lines to show the function of the same. It is placed more in the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

I have provided as a part of the invention a brake-controlling device. (Seen m ore clearly in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.) It consists of a roller 66, upon which rides the flanges of the member 21, and the said roller supported on a stem 67, which is yieldingly held upwardly by means of a between an offset in the stem and an offset ina bracket 69, in which the stem is carried. The bracket is formed integral with the straps spring 68, bearing or rings 17 secured to the tubes. The flanges of the member 21 are provided with a depres sion in their peripheries, into whichis adapted to seat itself the roller cc, for the purpose of stopping and retaining the trip-shaft 15 upon the release of the clutch parts, obviating the danger of the trip-shaft rotating any farther than is necessar r by its momentum or from other causes and insuring its always being in the proper position, both at the starting and stopping of the said trip-shalt and the parts controlled thereby. While have shown a roller and depression in the member with which the roller engages, a friction-blockmay be used with as good results, operating substantially in the same way.

In. Fig. 11 the two views show a modified device for clutching the hub of the sprocketwheel with the trip-shaft. In the main figures the friction gripping-face is upon the side faces of the member 21 and the hub of the sprocket 18. In the views above referred to a concentric ring or plate 71 is shown carried around a portion. of the member 21, having some suitable means or pockets for retaining the balls 29 on the ring, so that they will have a frictional engagemei'it with the peripheral face of the member 21. and an overlying hub portion or ring 72 of the hub of the sprocket which overlies the end of the member 21. and the balls 29. As the sprocket is rotated an initial or partial rotation is imparted to the ring 71 through a frictional contact of the balls and ring 72, when the balls will roll up on the cam-like faces 73 of the member 21 and lock the said member 21 and sprocket together, the cam-like faces of the n'iember appearing as seen. in Fig. 11 and in all respects similar to those appearing in the main figures of the (.lrawings.

It is manifest that the precise details of construction may be varied without depart ing from. the spirit of the invention. and that features of the invention. may be employed without its adoption as an entirety.

.l l aving thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and. desi re to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, :1 trip-shaft controlling the opening and closing of the said. gate and valve, a continuously driven sprocket :arried on said. shaft, a friction-clutch adapted. to be actuated by the sprocket-wheel for rotating the trip-shaft, a scale-lever, and means carried on the lever when. projected in. the path of the clutch adapted to disengage the same.

2. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft controlling the opening and closing of the said gate and valve, clutch parts carried by the said shaft adapted to have an intermittent frictional engagement, a scalelever and means connected with the lever IOC adapted when the lever is lowered to disengage the clutch parts.

3. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft controlling the opening and closing of the said gate and valve, a member loosely carried and continuously rotating on said shaft, a second member fixed on the shaft, mechanism interposed on the shaft between the aforesaid members adapted to clutch the matching faces of the members at intervals, a scale-lever, and means attached to said lever adapted to engage with and control the interposed mechanism aforesaid.

4. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft controlling the opening or closing of the said gate and valve, a sprocket-wheel loosely carried and rotating continuously on said shaft, a member fixed on said shaft, a disk loosely carried on the shaft intermediate the member and sprocket, means carried by the disk adapted at intervals to lock the sprocket with the member, a weight-controlled member, and means projecting therefrom adapted to engage the disk for disengaging the sprocket and said first-mentioned member.

5. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, a tripshaft controlling the opening or closing of the said gate and valve, a sprocket-wheel loosely carried on the shaft, a member fixed on said shaft, a disk loosely carried on the shaft and adapted 'at intervals to have a locking relation with the member and sprocket to impart rotation to the shaft through the member aforesaid, a weightcontrolled member having a predetermined movement, and means projecting therefrom adapted at intervals to engage and release the disk from the first-mentioned member and thereby stop the rotation of the shaft.

6. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft, a pitman connected at one end to the trip-shaft and its opposite end connected to the hopper-valve, a cam member on said shaft, a rod connected at one end to the spout-gate and its opposite end con trolled by said cam, intermittingly engaging clutch parts carried by the said shaft for rotating the latter, and means operating at predetermined intervals for disengaging the clutch parts and thereby stop the rotation of the tripshaft, substantially as specified.

7. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, an intermittingly rotated trip shaft, connections between the trip-shaft and hoppervalve, a sprocket-wheel rotating loosely on the said shaft, a cam fixedly carried on the said shaft, means for intermittingly locking the sprocket with the cam aforesaid, a rod connected at one end to the spout-gate and its opposite end raised or lowered through the action of the aforesaid cam, and means connected with the hopper adapted to disconnect the cam from the sprocket, substantially as specified.

S. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, an intermittingly rotated trip shaft, connections from one end of the said shaft with the valve of the hopper, a sprocket-wheel loosely carried on said shaft, a member fixedly carried on the said shaft, means for intermittingly locking the sprocket to the member and thereby rotate the said shaft, a rod connected at one end to the spout-gate and its lower end normally resting onlthe said member when the latter is at rest, and dislodged from the said member when the same is rotated to close the spout-gate, and means connected with the hopper adapted to disconnect the member and sprocket and thereby stop the rotation of said shaft and member, substantially as specified.

9. In a weigher, the combination' of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft, connections between said shaft and said gate and valve, a member loosely carried on the said shaft, means for clutching the said member to the shaft for intermittingly actuating the same, a scale-lever supporting at one end a hopper and at its opposite end havinga laterally-extended finger adapted to engage and retain the aforesaid member in a position of rest when the hopper is raised, substantially as specified.

10. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft, connections between the said shaft, gate and valve, clutch parts one loose and the other fixed on said shaft, an interposed member controlling the engagement of such clutch parts, and a scale-lever movable above the fixed clutch part and having a laterally-extended finger adapted to engage the member aforesaid for disengaging the clutch parts, substantially as specified.

11. Means for controlling the movements of the trip-shaft of a weigher, comprising a trip-shaft, a sprocket loosely carried thereon having a friction engaging face, a member fixedly carried on said shaft provided with cam-like faces, a plate interposed between the faces of the member and sprocket and having means for intermittingly impinging the faces of said sprocket and member, and a movable beam having a laterally-extended finger adapted at predetermined intervals to engage the said plate for releasing the same from the sprocket and member, substantially as specified.

12. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, a tripshaft, connections between said shaft, gate and valve, clutch parts one loose and the other secured on said shaft, means oper- IIO ating at predetermined intervals for controlling the engagement and disengagement of said clutch parts, and a brakecontrolling device constantly engaging one of said clutch parts, substantially as specified.

13. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a weight-con.trolled beam, a hopper suspended on one end of said beam, a valve for the hopper connected with side arms pivotally attached to the hopper, an extension integral with one of said. arms and extending up above the hopper, a weight on said extension, a trip-shaft, connections between said shaft, the spout-gate and one of the arms of saic hopper-valve, and means for interinittingly actuating the said shaft.

14. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft, means for intermittingly actuating the said shaft, connections between one end of the shaft and the hopper-valve, a member revolubly connected with the tripshaft, a rod connected at one end to the spout-gate and its opposite end adapted to be intermittingly engaged. by the member aforesaid in the rotation of the said shaft for raising and permitting the same to drop the said rod and thereby open or close the gate of the spout, substantially as specified.

15. In an automatic weigher, mechanism for controlling the gate of the spent and valve of the hopper, comprising an intermittingly actuated shaft, connections between said shaft the spoutgate and valve of the hopper, a continuousl:'-(.lr.ivcn sprocket-whetd on said shaft, a member carried by the shaft and adapted to have a slight oscillatory movement in the direction of rotation of said sprocket-wheel and by such movement clutch. the sprocket-wheel to the shaft, a weightcontrolled member, and alateral extension therefrom adapted to control the said firstmentioned member.

16. In an automatic weigher, mechanism for controlling the gate of the spout and valve of the hopper, comprising an intermittinglyactuated shaft, connections between the said shaft the spout-gate and valve of the hopper, a sprocket-wheel loosely carried on the sh aft, a member carried on the shaft adjacent to the hub of the sprocket, a beam connected with the hopper, an extension from said beam adapted when. the hopper .is raised to engage and hold. the said member in inoperas tive position, the said member when released from the extension of the beam adapt d to i have an initial partial rotation through frictional contact with the hub of the sprocket and ultimately clutch the sprocket to the shaft, substantially as specified.

17. In an automatic weigher, the combii'iation with the delivery-spout, of a spout-gate adapted to intermittingly close over the opening of said spout, a trip-shaft, a rod connected one end to the spo'ulkgate, means carried by the trip-shalt for control ing the movement of the said rod, adapted during a partial rotation of the shaft to permit the rod to drop of its own weight and close the spout instantly and during the latter half of the rotation of said shaft again engage the said rod and raise the same to open the said spout, substantially as s ')eci'fied.

1,8. In an automatic weigher, means for controlling the spout-gate and valve of the hopper, a trip-shaft, coimections between said shaft, the spout-gate and valve of the hopper, a continuously-actuated sprocketwheel carried on said shaft its hub having a ball-race, a plate carried on the shaft having a radial extension, a series of balls retained in said p ate and projecting from opposite sides thereof, a member fixedly carried on the shaft provided with a series of depressions adapted at intervals to be engaged fry the balls of the p ate, a beam supporting thc hopper, a laterally-extentled finger on the beam adapted to engage the extension of the plate to hold the same in an inoperative relation with sprocket and member, the said plate when. released by the extension of the beam adapted through its balls to engage the depressions in the member through a frictionalcontact with the ballrace of the sproeketwheel to facilitate in locking the sprocket to the shaft, substantially as specified.

l9. In an automatic weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate and a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft, a sprocket-wt-eel loosely carried on said shaft, :1 member fixedly attached to said shaft, an intermmliate plate adapted intervals to engage portions of the sprocket-wheel and member to lock the said sprocket to the shaft, a pitman connected with one end of the shaft and hopper-valve, a cam extension. of the aforesaid member, a rod connected at one end to the spout-gale and its opposite end adapted to be controlled by the movements of the said cam extension, and a scale-beam provided with. n ans adapted at intervals to engage the plate aforesaid and hold the shaft in a position of rest, substantially as specified.

20. In an automatic weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate, and a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft, a crank attached to one end of the shaft, a pitman secured to the crank and attached at its opposite end to the hopper-valve, a rod attached at one end to the spout-gate, a guide for the said rod, a rest for the lower end of said last-mentione l rod when the spout-gate is raised, said rest revolubly attached. to the said shaft, clutch devices on the said shaft adapted to be intermittingly engaged for imparting motion to the said shaft for the purposes specified, a beam connected with. the hopper, and a latera extension of the beam adapted when the IIC latter is lowered at its free end to engage and retain the clutch parts in inoperative positions, substantially as specified.

21. In an automatic weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate and a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft, connections between the said shaft spout-gate and valve of the hopper, a sprocket-wheel loosely carried on the shaft having a hub with an engaging face, a member fixedly attached to the shaft having an engaging face, an intermediate member loosely carried on the shaft having engaging devices adapted at intervals to clutch the engaging face of the sprocket and first-mentioned member, a scale-beam supporting the hopper at one end and its opposite end when the hopper is raised disposed in a lowered position and resting on a suitable support, a finger extending outwardly from the face of the beam adapted when the said beam is lowered to engage the intermediate member and retain the same free from engagement with the sprocket and member aforesaid, substantially as specified.

22. In an automatic weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate and a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft, connections between the said shaft the spout-gate and valve of the hopper, clutch members, one loose and the other fixed on the said shaft, an intermediate member having an extension and ad apted at intervals to clutch the first-mentioned member to each other, a scale-beam support ing the hopper at its outer end, a suitable support for the free end of the beam when the hopper is raised and the beam lowered, a laterally-extended finger from the beam adapt ed when the beam is lowered to engage the extension of the intermediate member to hold the same in an inoperative position, substantially as specified.

23. In an automatic weigher, the combination with the spout-gate and valve of the hopper, a trip-shaft, connections between the said shaft the spout-gate and valve of the hopper, clutch mechanism carried by said shaft adapted to be engaged. at predeter mined intervals for imparting movement to the shaft, a scale-beam having connection with the hopper, and a transverse extension from the beam adapted to have engagement with certain of the clutch parts for placing the same in an inoperative position, substantially as specified.

24. In an automatic weigher, the combina tion of a spout, a gate adapted to intermittingly close the said spout, a trip-shaft adapted to be intermittingly rotated, a rod attached at its upper end to the said spoutgate, a rest on the said shaft for the lower end of the rod adapted to normallyhold the rod in a raised position, means for rotating said shaft, and means for stopping and retaining said shaft in a position of rest at predetermined intervals, substantially as specified.

25. In a device of the class described, the combination of a trip shaft, a sprocketwheel loosely carried on the said shaft having its hub provided with a concentric groove, a member fixed on the shaft and spaced a short distance from the hub of the sprocket-wheel, its front face provided with a series of camlike depressions, an interposed disk having a concavo-convex body the convex face having a frictional contact with the member, balls suitably retained in the body of the disk adapted to have a frictional contact with the groove of the sprocket-wheel, means for holding the disk in an inoperative position, the said disk when released adapted to have an initial partial rotation imparted to it through the frictional contact of the balls with the sprocket resulting in looking the said balls against the cam-face of the member and thereby lock the sprocket to the shaft, sub stantially as specified.

26. The herein described brake for the trip-shaft of a weigher, comprising a member carried on said shaft, a brake yieldingly held in engagement with said member, and means suriporting said brake, substantially as specifier 27. The herein-described controlling-brake for the trip-shaft of a weigher, comprising a member carried on said shaft and provided with a depression in its periphery, a brake shoe yieldingly held in engagement with said. member adapted when entering the depression of the member to retain it in a position of rest, and means supporting said brakeshoe, substantially as specified.

28. In a device of the class described, the combination with elevator-tub es, a shaft supportedbetween the tubes and adapted to be intermittingly actuated, a member carried on said shaft, a brake-shoe yieldingly engaging the said member, said shoe carried in a bracket and the bracket suitably attached to the tubes, substantially as specified.

29. In a device of the class described, the combination with elevator-tubes, a shaft supported between the tubes and adapted to be intermittingly actuated, a member carried on said shaft, a brake yieldingly held in engagement with the said member, said brake consisting of a roller supported by a stem, a bracket attached to the tubes and supporting the said stem, and a spring carried around said stem within the bracket, engaging an offset on the stem and an offset at the lower end of the bracket, substantially as specified.

30. In a weigher, the combination of a spout having a gate and a hopper having a valve, a trip-shaft, connections between said shaft the spout-gate and valve of the hopper, clutch members one loose and the other fixed on said shaft, a member interposed between said clutch members adapted at intervals to clutch the members and thereby impart rotation to the shaft, a scale-beam connected with the hopper, a linger extending outwardly from the beam adapted at intervals to engage the interposed member for holding the same in an inoperative position, a rest lor the beam adapted to engage with the surface of the fixed clutch member, and a pin on said member adapted to temporari y look the rest in position on the member, substantially as specified.

31. In a grain-weigher, the combination of an elevator having a discharge-spoui, valve controlling the outlet-(evening ol the spend, a rod connected with said valve, and an intorn'iittentlv-revolulde member engaged bv the said rod, adapted in its rotation to raise the said rod and permitting the same to drop to lacilitate in opening or closing the said valve.

In a grarnoverglrer, the combination an elevator having a discharge-spoilt, a valve controlling the outlet-op ning of the spout, an intern]ittentlv-revoluble shalt, a rod connected with said valve and having its lower end in proximity to the said shalt, and means carried on. the said shalt adapted during a partial rotation thereof to raise the rod and open the valve, and in the lurther rotation ol said shalt moving away from the rod and permitting the same to drop of own weight and thereby close the said valve.

33. In a grain-weigher, the combination (d an elevator having a discharge-sporn1, a valve controlling the outlet-opening ol the said spout, a shalt, a member having an irregular peripher attached to said shalt, a rod connected with the valve the lower end of which normally rests on said member, means lor imparting movement to said shalt, the said member adapted in the rotation of the shaft to raise the said rod and ermit the same to drop, thereby opening and closing the said valve.

34. in a grain-weigher, the combina' i ion ol an elevator having a diRcharge-spout, a valve controlling the outlel'eopening of said spout, a shalt, a cam carried on said shalt. a rod attached to the valve, a member atiached to the lower end of the rod and havirg a semicircular portion eonlorming to a portion ol the said cam and. to be engaged therel n, means for rotating the shalt and there:

causing the cam to lift the rod and subs,- quentlv to move lrom beneath the same, and means for guiding the cam into the sem icircular member at the lower end ol the said rod.

35. In a grain-weigher, the con'ibination of an elevator having a discharge-spout, a valve controlling the outlet-(mening of the spout, a counterbalanced weighing-hopper, a valve controlling the outlet ol said hopper, an intermittently-revoluble shalt, a pitmana'od con neeted with the valve ol the hopper nd attached to the shalt upon one side ol said elevator, a rod connected with the valve of the spout aforesaid and operating upon the opposite side of said elevator, and means rarried on said shalt adapted in the rotaiion thereol to raise the rod connected with the spout-valve and thereby open the same and permitting the said rod "Lo drop ol ias own weight lor he purpose ol closing said valve. in a grair-weigher, an clc azor com g o; rallel tUlXH and having a dischargeouLlet, a valve controlling said outlet,aco11n terpoised weighing-re eptaclc beneath the or al'oresaid, a valve con'irollin .he ()UI- 10' through the receptacle, a shalt disposed iransversel oetwoen. Lila tubes, a crank on one end oi said shalt, a rod connected with said crank and Willi the valve ol' the receptacle, a piiman connected with said lirs'r-mentioncalv valve, and a cam on the end of the shalt opposite to tha which carries the crank lei" comrolling the movement ol said rod.

37. in a grain-wcigher, the combination ol an elevator having a discharge-outlct, a valve controlling said outlet and carried b v arms pivotally connected to the side oi said elevator, a transverse shall, a rod connected with one of said valve-arms and having its lower end in proximitv to said shalt, a guide on the side. ol the elevator lor said rod, and means carried on said shalt adapted to engage the lower end of the rod lor raising the same during a partial rotation of the shall and in. the Further rotation ol' the shalt permitting the rod to drop ol its own weight.

32%. in a grainweigher, lhc combinzd'ion ol a trioshalt, a clutch part 'lixed on said shalt and provided. with. tapered depressions in its outer lace, a continuouslv-movable clutch part loo 'd mounted on said shalt and provided with an annular groove on its inner lace, a ball-retainer loosely carried on said shalt and interposed between the said clutch parts, said ball-retainer having a 'Ll}')-Sl1zl} ((l central bod v portion who by a lrictirmal contact is made with the c lral body portion ol said clutch part, balls carried in said retainer and coinciding with the groove ol the loose clutch part and also adapted to have an intermittent lriclional engagement with the depressions in the outer lace ol the lixcd clutch parts, and a weight-controlled member adapted at predetermined intervals to have engagement with said ball-rotainer, lor the purposes speeiliml,

as. in a grain-weigher, the combination ol an elevator having a dischar -outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, a transverse tripshalt, a fixed clutch part on said shalt, a loose clutch part on said shalt adapted to be continuously rotated, a member carried by said shalt and interposed between the clutch parts, adapted at predetermined intervals to connect the said clutch parts for imparting movenwnt to said shalt, weight-controlled means adapted. at preiletermined intervals lo have engagement with said interposed member, a rod connected with the valve of the ele 'vator and having its lower end carried in proximity to said shaft, and means integral with said clutch part and carried by said shaft which controls the operation of said rod and normally serves as a rest therefor.

40. In a device of the character described, an oscillating valve, an intermittently-revoluble shaft, a member revoluble with said shaft, a rod connected at one end with said valve and disconnected at its opposite end, but adapted to be engaged by the aforesaid member in the operation or said shaft for raising the said valve.

4-1. In a device of the character described, an oscillating valve, an intermittently-revoluble shaft, a member carried by said shaft and having a cam-engaging face, a rod connected at one end with said valve and disconnected at its opposite end, but adapted to be engaged by the cam-face of the said member in the operation. of said shaft for raising the said valve.

42. In a device of the character described, an oscillating valve, an intermittently-revoluble shaft, a member carried by said shaft and having a cam-face, a rod connected at one end with said valve and having its lower end normally resting on said member, means for actuating the said shaft, the actuation of the shaft causing the member in its rotation to raise the rod and permitting the same to drop and thereby open and close the said valve.

48. In a device of the character described, a pivoted valve-arm, a valve-plate attached to said arm, an intermittently-revoluble shaft, a member carried on said shaft, a reciprocating rod attached at one end to the valvearm aforesaid and disconnected at its opposite ends, but adapted in the rotation of said shaft to be engaged by the said member for reciprocating the said rod.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

BENJAMIN M. STEELE. Witnesses:

J. W. AsHwoRTH, CHAS. W. LA PORT. 

